Unit 42 Intern Spotlight: Anikait and Akshika’s First 90 Days

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Anikait and Akshika: interns of Unit 42

Anikait and Akshika

Unit 42 - MDR Interns

Early Talent | India | Culture

Tuesday, June 23, 2026

Internship Spotlight: Anikait and Akshika Reflect on Their First 90 Days with Unit 42

At Palo Alto Networks, we’re committed to nurturing the next generation of cybersecurity experts. Today, we’re highlighting Anikait and Akshika, who are Managed Detection and Response (MDR) Interns with our Unit 42 team in India. Now halfway through their internships, the two reflect on their proudest achievements so far, the support they’ve received from their mentors, and how communication is a skill every young professional should master.

Take us through your first 90 days with Palo Alto Networks — what have you been working on, and what has your internship journey looked like so far?

Anikait: The first 90 days of this internship have gone by so fast! It’s been such an interesting experience. The first month was mostly training sessions where team members shared their expertise. I especially loved the product training; getting to know the day-to-day actions and the overall process was really cool.

Akshika: My first 90 days consisted of polishing the basic concepts of MDR analysis, learning to break down problems into smaller, understandable chunks of information, and making sense of attacks. This was followed by learning to utilize Palo Alto Networks products Cortex XDR and XSOAR to investigate real-world cases.

What’s one thing about the Palo Alto Networks culture that genuinely surprised or inspired you in your first 90 days?

Akshika: The level of team coordination and the genuine willingness to improve based on feedback has been truly inspiring. This really breaks the stereotypical image of large organizations that people commonly have.

Anikait: The culture here is so chill. Everyone is approachable and easy to talk to. Knowledge-sharing is very open, and the whole team is collaborative.

Akshika: You see firsthand that great things happen when a team works together with a shared mission.

Tell us about a moment or project where you felt, “Wow, I’m really making an impact here.” What did you work on and why did it matter?

Akshika: Successfully triaging my first incident was a significant milestone. There is an incredible sense of fulfillment in seeing my technical skills translate into tangible impact.

Anikait: A major highlight for me was developing custom XQL queries for threat investigation scenarios during an internal technical challenge. My queries received great feedback and have even been shared with team members across India and Australia to assist in their work. Seeing my contributions being utilized on a global scale by experienced analysts was a true "wow" moment.

You’re halfway through your internship — what’s one skill that you now believe is critical to succeed here?

Anikait: Collaboration and communication are a must.

Akshika: Communication is absolutely the most critical skill for success here. In a fast-paced environment like Unit 42, clear and effective communication is the key to collaborating across large groups and achieving our collective goals. I’ve been fortunate to meet so many outgoing and brilliant people who emphasize how much we can achieve when we stay connected.

Anikait: When you encounter a complex case for the first time, you may not have all the answers immediately, but someone on the team always has the relevant experience to guide you.

It’s important for all of us to maintain a proper work/life balance. What do you like to do outside the office to recharge after a busy week at the office?

Akshika: I’ve recently committed to becoming more active through sports and yoga. It has been helping improve my concentration as well.

Anikait: Outside of work, I’m focused on upskilling through extra courses and staying active with frequent jogging and exercise. Since my college final year project keeps me busy during the week, I love using my weekends to roam around and explore the different vibrant neighborhoods of Bangalore.

Want to start your own internship journey at Palo Alto Networks? Visit our Early Careers page to find an opportunity that’s right for you.

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